21 truckloads of logs seized in Agusan

TAGUM CITY—Forest rangers under the National Anti-Illegal Task Force of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) seized logs that could fill up 21 large trucks during an operation in Loreto, Agusan del Sur, early Monday.

The 2,461 lauan logs—with a total volume of 490.21 cubic meters and valued at P3.4 million—were found in Sitio Marang in Barangay Kasapa, according to Louie Ceniza of the task force.

Ceniza told the Inquirer by text message that a joint team from Compostela Valley, Tagum City and the Caraga region, and the military’s intelligence group in Southern Mindanao, conducted the operation at around 4 a.m.

No arrests were made, however, as the culprits had fled before authorities arrived, he said.

“The confiscated logs were now deposited to the Tagum City motorpool under the protective custody of Mayor Rey Uy,” he said.

Uy said the latest haul would further help the city government’s program to provide chairs and desks to public schools. For over five years now, the city government has been fabricating chairs, desks and other school fixtures out of confiscated logs turned over by the DENR.

The latest seizure, Uy said, would mean additional 7,000 chairs and desks.

But he said the sad thing was that illegal harvesting of trees was continuing.

“They won’t stop so we would also be relentless in making apprehensions,” Uy told the Inquirer by mobile phone. Frinston L. Lim, Inquirer Mindanao